Thermostatically-controlled radiator shutter for automobiles



July 5 1927. 1,634,301

J. F. RALEIGH THERMOSTAT ICALLY CONTROLLED RADIATOR SHUTTER FOR AUTOMOBILES Filed March 1925 v 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 w 1,634,301 5 J. F. RALEIGH THERMOSTATI CALLY CONTROLLED RADIATOR SHUTTER FOR AUTOMOBILES Filed March 1925 2 shuts-Sheet 2 Patented July 5, 1927.

UNITED" STA JAMES F. RALEIGH; OF RIVER FOREST, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO FRONT COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

' THERMOSTATICALLY-CONTROLLED RADIATOR SHUTTER FOR AUTOMOBILES.

Application filed March 16, 1925. Serial No. 16,089.

My invention relates to thermostatically controlled radiator shutters for automobiles.

One of the principal objects of the invention is to provide improved means for housing or mounting the thermostatic element or elements in such manner thataccess thereto can be easily obtained for substituting these elements or for adjusting the same. It frequently happens that the thermostatic means it is too responsive or is insufficiently responsive for proper thermal control of the automobile cooling system, and to correct thiscondition the thermostatic means is usually substituted or adjusted. Heretofore, this substitution or adjustment has necessitated the disassembly of a considerable part 'of the entire shutter device, in order to gain access to the thermostatic means. This is avoided in the present shutter device by the provision of an improved closure element or holder by the releasing of which access can be gained to the thennostatic'means without disassembly of any part of the shutter device.

A further object of the present invention is to provide means for improving the heat conductivity between the radiator and the thermostatic element or elements of the shutter device. This improved means affords a contact with the radiator core for transferring heat from the core to the thermally responsive means of the shutter device. This improved heat transfer means has particular application to certain types of radiators, where the necessary heat transfer to the thermostatic means is diflicult to obtain.

Further objects will appear from the folp lowing descriptlon of a preferred embodiment of my invention.

In the accompanying ing this embodiment:

drawing illustrat- Figure 1 1s a vertical sectional viewthrough the upper portion of a shutter device embodying my invention,

portion of the automobile radiator also shown in section; Figure 2 is an elevational view of the mounting plate with the releasable closure geing element or. holder mounted therein as viewed from the rear side of the shutter device;

Figure 3 is a substantially similar view more extended surface and a more intimate the adjacent of the mounting plate with the holder and closure element removed, and I 1 Figure 4 is a perspective view of the closure and holder element.

Figure :5 is a vertical sectional on the plane represented by the line 55 of Figure 1.

Referring to Fig. 1, a'portion of an automobile radiator is represented by the upper res PATENT OFFICE.

PINES wm'rnaview taken water box 7 and the series-of circulatlng tubes 8'. The shutter device 9 comprises a series of shutters 11 which control'the flow of air past the radiator tubes- 8. These shutters' are generally controlled or actuated by thermostatic means which I shall presently describe. I

As illustrative of a radical ap lication of my invention,'I shal describe t e same as embodied in a radiator shutter device of the type disclosed in my prior Patent No. 1,458,593. Shutter devices of this type genera-11y consist of two major units, namely, the frame 12 in which are mounted the shutters 11,/and the fenestrated shield or shell 13 in which the frame 12 is mounted. This construction permits of the use of a standardized frame assembly for practically all cars,

1 the shield or shell 13 being merely substijtuted' for the different designs and sizes of radiators. For the details of this construction, attention is directed'to my above-mentioned prior patent. The frame 12 is represented in part b the-channel member 12', and the outer she I is represented by the cupshaped covering ortion 13. The frame member 12 exten s from side to side of the frame and has bolted thereto a mounting late 15, shown in elevation in Figs. 2 an 3. This mounting plate has ears 16 having. bolt holes 17 for receiving bolts 18, b which the. late ,is fastened to the channe mem er 12'. Secured to thefront of the mounting plate 15 by. additionalbolts 18 is a cup-shaped housin 21. cup-shapeed wood block 20 is pre erably interposed tween this housing 21 and the on -s h aped portion 13 of the outer shell for a ditlonal heat insulation between the two. The connecting bolts 18- pass through aligned apertures' in the mounting flanged periphery of the housing member 21,

receiving nuts 19 on the front side of the frame plate 15 and in the 7 flange 23 of the frame channel 12 and the mounting plate 15. x

Defined between the mounting plate 15 and the cup-shaped housing 21, or between this mounting plate and the front shell 13, is a chamber 24: in which is housed the thermostatic means. For this embodiment of shutter device the thermostatic means preferably comprises two or more thermowafers 25, eachconsisting of ahollow sheet metal shell having flexible side walls. Each wafer -contains a gas or liquid having a high coeiiicient of expansion and contraction, such as ether. A typical construction or" thermo- -wafer is disclosed in my copending application Serial No. 16,090, filed March'16, 1925. The outer wafer of the series bears against a pallet 26 which has pivotal connection with a crank portion 27 formed in the vertical operating rod 28. This operating rod is pivotally supported in the housing member 21 and has suitable operative connection with the shutters 11, the details of which operative connection need not be described here, as they constitute no part ofthe present invention.

As before described, these thermowater cells are oftentimes too responsive, or are insufiiciently responsive, for proper operation of the shutter device, resulting in .insufficientheating .or in overheating of the cooling system. This is only ascertained after the shutter device has been completely assembled and mounted on the radiator. This condition is generally corrected by substituting wafer cells having a greater or lesser content of ether for obtaining a quicker. or slower response to temperature change. Her'etofore the substitution of different thermowafcr cells has involved considerable labor and expense. After removing the shutter outer shell had to be separated from the frame 12 to afford access to the nuts 19. This separation of the shell 13 and'frame 12 necessitates the release of several points of attachment between'the two. After separat- 1ng these two main elements, the nuts 19 must all be released and the bolts 18 all withdrawn to separate the mounting plate 15 from the frame 12, before access can be had to the thermowafers 25.

According to the present invention, I

avoid these difiiculties by providing a read- 11y releasable closure element for the rear end of the chamber 24, through which acblank longitudinally in dis device from the radiator, the

reagent.

cess can be gained to the thermowafers for their substitution or adjustment, without necessitating the separation of the shell and the frame or any of the other steps outlined above. A circular hole 31 is provided in the mounting plate 15 through which the thermowafers can be Withdrawn from the chamber 24. Segmental portions of the plate around themargins of this hole are punched back to form arcuate keys or locking lugs 32. The metal remaining in 'the plane of the plate 15-between these arcuate keys forms cooperating arcuate keys 33. The corresponding end of each key 33 is punched backwardly.to form a sloped looking surface 34:.

Supported in this opening 31 is a combined closure element and wafer holder 36. This unit consists of 'a sheet metal cup preferably of aluminum for high heat conductivity, having an annular wall 37 and a rear end wall 38. The annular wall 37 confines and supports the thermowafers25, and the end wall 38 functions as a rear abutment for the wafers and as a heat absorbing surface for conducting heat to the thermowafers.

Projecting from the periphery ofthe holder 36, adjacent the rear wall 38, is a plurality of arcuate keys 39 which are adapted to have interlocking engagemenowith the keys 32 and 33. The keys 39 are preferably formed by compressing the cup-shaped which permit the metal adjacent the end wallto expand outwardly to the diameter of the keys 39. Segmental portions of this expanded metal are then removed to form the keys 39. In mounting the holder in the mounting plate 15, the thermowafers 25 are assembled in the holder, and the holder is then inserted into the opening 31 the keys 39 being first placed in register with the keys 32 and being then revolved into interlocking engage ment with the keys 33. When the leading edges of the keys 38 have been revolved into wedging contact withthe inwardly sloped ends 34 of the keys 33, the holder is rigidly supported in interlocking engagement with the mountingplate 15, with the thermowafers 25 in operative contact withthepallet 26. The wedged engagement between the keys 39 and the inwardly sloped ends 34 of the mounting plate will rigidly lock the the holder may be provided with a punched depression 41 for centrally engaging the adacent Wafer 25. A plurality of holes -42 in themear .Wall of the holder permit of the circulation of heated air from the radiator around the thermo Wafers, and also permit of the insertion of a tool for forcibly rotating the holder in mounting or dis'mounting the same.

, are typical of the tubular tion of heat from the radiator core to this rear wall 38 is made difficult and somewhat hncertain owing to the relatively small surface area of the core to be engaged by the rear wall 38'. The water circulatingtubes 8 type of radiator,

' and these tubes are generally provided with a plurality I of heat radiating fins 44, which consist either of circular disks or flat strips of metal extending from side to side of the core and apertured'for receiving the circulating tubes 8. With either construction of heat radiating fin, it will be evident that the narrow edge contact between the front of the fin and the rear wall 38 of the holder will afiord a relatively, small area of heat I conducting contact, and this smallarea may and the heat heat transfer plate is composed of very duebetween the fins 44 ,have multiple contact with the upper and the pressure of drawing -tending transversely thereof be even further diminished byhaving only .two. orthree of these 38 of the holder.

To avoid this condition, ing a heat'transfer plate 45 I propose providwhich will multi- -ply the points of contact and the area of condudting surface between the radiator core absorbing surface 38. This tile metal, preferably soft aluminum, which can be shaped to fit the necessities of the particular installation. This aluminum plate has a plurality of corrugations 46 exfor insertion between the heat radiating fins 44 of the core. In'applying this heat transfer plate, these corrugations can be forced back against the clrculatingtubes 8 and expanded so that the plate will lower sides of the fins and with the tubes 8. When the shutter device is applied to the radiator, -after the application of this heat transfer plate, the front edges of the corrugations 46 will adapt themselves, under the shutter device so that each coragainst the radiator core,

. rugation will have intimate contact with the heat absorbing surface 38 across the entire width of the latter.

It will be apparent that by making the heat absorbing surfacev 38 separate from the -mounting plate 15 there .will be a lesser tendency for heat absorbed by the surface 38 from being conducted to the mounting plate 15,- than if these two were integral.

Thus, there is a reduced tendency for heat absorbed by the surface 38 to be lost by conduetion to the mounting plate 15 and its connected parts. While I have illustrated but a single embodiment of my invention, I do not limit fins engage the wall opposite side of and means permitting access to myself to this specific construction, but wish to have my invention limited only by the terms and spirit of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In a thermostatic radiator shutter, the combination of aframe, a shell, a chamber between said frame and said shell, athermostatic element in said chamber, and a closure member for said chamber, said closure member being releasable for affording access to said thermostatic element without neeessitat-' ing separation of said frame and said shell. I

2. In a thermostatic radiator shutter, the combination of a frame, a shell, means associated with said frame defining'a chamber, a thermostatic element in said chamber, and a closure member for said chamber, said closure member being releasable for affording access to said chamber without necessitatin'g separation of said frame and said shell.

3. In a thermostatic radiatorshutter, the combination of a frame member, a shell, 9. thermostatic element disposed between said frame member and said shell, and a releasable closure element cooperating with said frame member for affording access to said thermostatic element from the rear of said frame member.

4. In a thermostatic radiator shutter, the combination of supporting means, shutter mechanism carried by said supporting means, thermostatic means for controlling said shutter mechanism, and a removable supporting member carried by said supporting means for holding said thermostatic means;

5. In a thermostatic radiator shutter, the combinationof a supporting member, shutter mechanism, thermostatic means for controlling said shutter mechanism, a holder for 105 said thermostatic means, and means for mounting said holder on said supporting means releasable by rotation of said holder.

6. In a thermostatic radiator shutter, the combination of a supporting member, a chamber defined on one side of said supporting member, thermostatic means disposed in said chamber, shutter mechanism adapted to be' controlled by said thermostatic means, and a closure element releasable from the said supporting member for affording access to said thermostatic means.

7. In a thermostatic radiator shutter, the combination of supportingmeans, a' chamber 'defined on the front side ofsaid sup- 12o porting means, a thermostatic element in said chamber, shutter mechanism adapted to be controlled by said thermostatic element, said chamber from the reverse side of said supporting means, said access affording means being releasa'ble by rotation relative to said sup: porting means.

8. In 'a thermostatic radiator shutter, the combination of a mounting plate, a shell, a m

in said chamber, shutter mechanism COIltrolled by said thermostatic element, and a closure member releasably supported by said mounting plate for affording access to said chamber from the rear side of said mounting plate. 9. Tn a thermostatic radiator shutter, the

combination of a mounting plate, thermostatic means disposed in the front side of said mounting plate, shutter mechanism adapted to be controlled by said thermostatic means, a holder for said thermostatic means,

and interlocking keys between said holder and said mounting plate releasable by relative rotation therebetween.

10. In a thermostatic radiator shutter,-the combination of a mounting member, shutter mechanism, a thermostatic element for. con-v trolling the operation of said shutter mechanism, and a holder for said thermostatic element adapted to be supported by said mount ing member, said holder having arcuate keys thereon cooperating with arcuate keys on said mounting member.

11. In a thermostatic radiator shutter, the

combination of a mounting member, shutter mechanism, a thermostatic element for controlling the operation of said shutter mechanism, a holder for said thermostatic element. and interlocking lugs on said holder adapted to cooperate with interlocking lugs on said mounting member.

12. In a thermostatic radiator shutter,- the combination of a frame, shutter mechanism carried by said frame, a mounting plate carried by said frame, av shell receiving said frame, a chamber defined between said mounting plate and said shell, a thermostatic element disposed in said chamber for controlling the operation of said shutter mechanism, said mounting plate having an openingv therein for the removal of said thermostatic element from the rear of said mount-' ing plate, and a releasable closure element for said opening.

13. lln a thermostatic radiator shutter, the combination of a frame, shutter mechanism carried by said frame, a plate adapted to lie in proximity to the'radiator,.a thermostatic element disposed on the front side of said plate for controlling the operation of said shutter mechanism, said plate having an opening therein for the removal of said thermostatic element from the rear side of said plate, and a releasable closure element for said opening.

14. In a thermostatic radiator shutter, the combination of a frame, shutter mechanism neeaeoi carried by said frame, a mounting plate carried by said frame, a. shell receiving said said holder cooperating with arcuate keys on said mountingplate around said openin and a thermostatic wafer supported by said holder for controlling the operationof said shutter mechanism, said holder being releas-. able from said mounting plate for affording access to said thermostatic wafer by rotation relative to said mounting plate.

15. In a thermostatic radiator shutter, the combination 'of shutter mechanism, a pair of members separable from each other and forming a chamber therebetween, a thermostatic element in said chamber for controlling the operation of said shutter mechanism,- .and a closure element supported by one of said members for closing one end of said chamber, said closure element being, releasable for affording access to said thermostatic element without separating said members.

idThe combination with a radiator, of a thermally controlled shutter device for said radiator comprising thermally responsive means and heat transfer means adapted to be interposed between the radiator and the shutter device for increasing the heat conductivity between the radiator and said thermally responsive means.

17. The combination with a radiator,,of a thermally controlled shutter device for said radiator comprising thermally responsive means, said thermally responsive means having a heat absorbing surface, and heat transfer means engaging between thefins of the radiator core and transferring heat to said heat absorbing surface.

18. The combination with a radiator, of a thermally controlled shutter device for said radiator comprising thermally responsive means, a heat absorbing surface for transferring heat to said thermally respongive, means, a corrugated heat transfer plate sive means, and a heat transfer plate having corrugations therein engaging between the fins of the radlatbr core for conductmg heatto -sa1d thermally responsive means.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe 'day of March. 1925..

my name this 1th I JAMES F. RALEIGH. 

